DASU, Oct 29 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Thursday announced a grant of Rs 40 million to help earthquake affected people pay back their agriculture loans.

Addressing the victims of earthquake, the Prime Minister said the government can understand their pain and loss and would do all within its means to bring them comfort.

The Prime Minister, accompanied with Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid and Chief Minister KPK Pervaiz Khattak were informed by the local representatives that the people of the area were facing difficulties in paying back their agricultural loans, owing to the natural calamity.

The Prime Minister said lists of those who had acquired the loans need to be prepared with due care, to ensure that all those who had outstanding loans, be able to pay it back.

He said the federal government in collaboration with the provincial government of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would pay an amount of Rs 600,000 to each of the dead, while the injured would be paid Rs 100,000 and for those who lost a limb - compensation would be Rs 200,000.

He also announced payment of Rs 200,000 for fully destroyed houses and Rs 100,000 for partially damaged.

He said the compensation package was for the earthquake victims of FATA, Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and payments would be made from next Monday, after due verification.

The Prime Minister said though the earthquake measured much higher than the one of Oct 2005, but with the grace of Allah Almighty the losses were far less.

Prime Minister Sharif said the government was trying its best to reach out to the far off places. There were some areas that were inaccessible by roads, so helicopters would be used to drop the relief goods.

He said the first priority was to provide shelter, blankets and food rations to help the people cope with the calamity.

He directed the local administration to ensure that the relief measures were geared up to reach out to the people living in difficult areas. He also directed the Chairman NDMA to ensure that relief goods reach the needy without any delay.

The Prime Minister said the elected representatives of the area have also been directed to fan out to the affected areas and monitor the relief and rehabilitation measures.

He regretted that the literacy level in the area was quite low and said the government would provide more funds for setting up new educational institutions.

Referring to the expansion of the Karakoram Highway, the Prime Minister said the project would usher in a new era of prosperity for the people of the area. He said similarly work on the Dasu dam was going on at a good pace and it would help create employment opportunities for the local people.

Nawaz Sharif said the area was rich with scenic beauty and this potential needs to be fully exploited to attract more local and foreign tourists, which he added would generate economic activity.